A Celebration of Miracles

Takashimaya Department Store will soon host a series of recitals played on a grand piano salvaged from the debris of tsunami-stricken East Japan.The “Miracle Piano”, as it has come to be known, used to belong to Koma High school in Fukushima Prefecture, and actually graced the school's graduation ceremony on the very day disaster struck. Swept away by the tsunami, the piano was found months later, and was painstaking restored by local piano tuner Mr Endo.

Now a poignant symbol of hope and reconstruction, the piano has been flown in by Takashimaya to show its appreciation to all Singaporeans for the warm generosity shown during the March 2011 disaster, and to commemorate the retailer's 20th year in Singapore.

Recitals — at the store's level one atrium — will be preceded by a short talk by Endo, and will feature the likes of pianist Clarence Lee, singer-songwriter Kaori Futenma and the Japanese School Choir.

As part of its anniversary celebrations, Takashimaya is also staging a photography exhibition by Herbie Yamaguchi and a charity painting exhibition by 9-year-old ingénue Gelyn Ong (whose artworks will be sold in support of the Viva Foundation for Children with Cancer).